Tokyo Ghoul (Photo : Twitter)
The latest update from the highly anticipated 'Tokyo Ghoul' Season 3 has given hope to its legions of fans.
A report has claimed a rather ambitious Winter 2016 release which predates projections that the earliest possible Season 3 date would be 2017.
The Rumor
According to Ecumenical News, not only is the anime out by this year but also, Madhouse is taking over production from Studio Pierrot.
The source of their report was Anime Maru. The main report's lede read: "A third season of Tokyo Ghoul was announced earlier this week. According to official sources, the series will air during the Winter 2016 anime season, and Madhouse will be taking over the animation from Studio Pierrot."
The report was published on August 20, 2015, almost a year ago. It was safe to predict a 2016 release date at that time as anything can happen in the span of 15 months. However, as Ecumenical News picked up the news now, it may seem unlikely.
The report also claimed that Madhouse is taking over from Studio Pierrot. Is that actually confirmed?
What we do have is a petition for Madhouse to take over, as per this link. The petitioner wants a reboot because "we have a manga that is on par with Death Note when it comes to its complexity and psychological theme and it gets that sorry adaptation from Studio Pierrot."
But has it actually happened? Most online petitions, for better or worse, don't really end up coming into fruition.
The Verdict
According to When Will.net, a site that focuses on release dates, there really was a schedule for 2016 based on their latest update way back in October 4, 2015. But the site mentioned that "the Pierrot studio has renewed the series for another season, slated to air in 2016."
Why are there contrasting reports? The root site of the rumor about the transfer to Madhouse can be traced back to Anime Maru, and was picked up by the other sites.
Upon closer scrutiny, Anime Maru's report seems flawed, referring to sources like "the anime's writer Bob." If one were to scourt Anime Maru's About page, this is their admission.
"Ok, for liability reasons, I have to come clean. Anime Maru is a a satirical publication. Nothing on this site should be interpreted as factual nor as a claim to fact. Content is not reflective of opinions held by the staff of Anime Maru. Content is not intended for readers under the age of 18. In conclusion, Anime Maru is fake anime news. If any of this is a surprise to you, I recommend speaking to your mother. She has something to tell you about the tooth fairy."
The rumors stemmed from a satirical site, similar to The Onion. It has been repeatedly reported and claimed as fact. But there is no truth to the rumor.
Sadly, fans of "Tokyo Ghoul" anime would have to wait again for any official development from Studio Pierrot on when Season 3 will be released. It has not been acquired or given to Madhouse as of this wrting.
